Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1905 — RECALLS OLD CRIME IN BENTON. [ARTICLE]

RECALLS OLD CRIME IN BENTON.

Death of Cephas Atlciason Recalls riurder ol His Daughter By Farm Hand Many Years Ago. The Cephas Atkinson, who was buried at Oxford last Saturday, owned thousands,of acres of fine land in Benton county, and was noted for bis industrious habits. He lived to be seventy-three years old, although his life was clouded by a tragedy. In 1883 his young daughter, sixteen years old, was murdered by Jacob Nelling, who used a common pocketknife, terribly mutilating the body of his victim. Nelling lived at the Atkinson home. Miss Atkinson wae a popular, lovable young woman, and her murder aroused the utmost indignation in the community. Nelling was not under suspicion for some time after the burial, and then his grief became so pronounced that it attracted attention. He was arrested and confessed that he murdered the firl because she did not love him. te was hurried to Tippecanoe county for safe keeping, and after the excitement was supposed to have died out, he was brought back to Benton county and committed to jail at Fowler for trial. Notwithstanding precautions by the authorities, a mob visited the jail, took the prisoner to a point near the Atkinson hotne and swung him to a tree. Afterward the body was buried, and the tree was practically cut down and carried away by relic hunters.